Pro Update: Okposo Nets Winner, U.S. Tops Austria in Europe

Lots of action on Friday night (and early Saturday morning) as the NHL playoffs continued and the 2013 IIHF World Championships got underway over in Europe.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the night was Kyle Okposo's game-winning goal in the New York Islanders' 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins to even their playoff series at 1-1. The odd goal capped a dramatic comeback for the Islanders that saw Okposo's squad rally from a 3-1 deficit after the first period (and also saw Okposo drop the gloves).

Also in NHL playoff action...Nick Leddy picked up an assist in Chicago's 5-2 win over Minnesota as the Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead in the series.

Gophers Face Off at World Championships

Erik Johnson scored twice and Nick Bjugstad added a pair of assists as the U.S. National Team rallied to beat Thomas Vanek and Austria 5-3 early Saturday morning in the 2013 IIHF World Championships opener.

Johnson's first goal of the game tied the contest at 2-2 with a primarily assist from Bjugstad in a "Gopher on Gopher connection," according to Johnson.

"To come in and contribute in the first game is definitely big," Johnson said after the game. "To get the first one out of the way with a win, especially coming down from a two-goal deficit early in the game, is big for our club. We can't get comfortable, just have to keep going and get better from here."

Team USA returns to action on Sunday vs. Latvia at 12:15 p.m. CT. NBC Sports Live Extra will stream the game live in the U.S. with NBC Sports Network televising the game on tape delay at 12:15 a.m. CT on May 6.